Door latch



J. KUCZKOWSKI. nome LATCH. APPLICATION FILED APR. 7, 1921.

Patented May 23, 1922.

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

1. KuczKowSKl. DOOR LATCH. I l APPLICATION FILED APR. 7, 1921. Patented May 239 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

DOOR LATCH.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented iliay 23, 1922.

Application led April 7, 1921. Serial No. 458,222.

To all whom it may c0121 cern Be it known that I, Josnr-i Kucziiowsiii, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Bay City, in the county of Bay and `State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Door Latches, of which'the following is a specilication.

yThis invention relates to latches and the like.

One object of the invention is to provide a simple and convenient latch which will be applicable to doors of any description.

' further object is to design a strong and durable latch which will be composed of relatively few parts, all of which can be metal stampings.

A still further object is to provide an inexpensive latch for use on automobile doors and the like, which can also belocked when desired.

l/Vith the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of `part-s, hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changesmay be made in the form, size, proportion and minor details of construction without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of `the invention.

In the drawings Fig. l is a front view of my improved latch f showing it in locked position.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing it in lunlocked position` Fig. 2 is across sectional view taken on the line 3 3' of Fig. '1.

Fig. Llis an enlarged fragmentary detail showing the operating rod in two different positions.

Fig. 5 is an edge viewy of the knob.

Fig. 6 is a bottom view thereof.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross sectional end view showing the locking member.

Fig. 8 is a side `view thereof.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary top plan view of the conventional automobile door` showing my improved lock in position thereon, and

Fig. 10 is a side view thereof.

Referring now particularly to the drawing in which I have provided a sheet metal case 1 for housing the locking mechanism, this case is provided with a cover 2 adapted to be secured thereon, and als@ t0 the deer in which the latch is placed by means of screws extending through the openings et formed in the fianged portions of the latch casing, an opening 5 being` provided in. the edge of the case, and also in the cover to allow for the reception of a staple or other similar pro ject'ion 6 carried by the doorv frame, and which can be rigidlysecured thereto in any desiredinanner, but in this instance l have shown the staple cast integral with a plate 'T which is attached to the door frame by means of screws or the like.

A. preferably sheet metal bracket or stamping S is positioned in this case l being formed as shoivn, the lower edge being bent at right angles to the main body, the ends 9 being bent upwardly and are adapted to be secured to the side walls of the case by means of rivets or the like, the main body of this bracket S extends upwardly terminating in a pair of forked extremities 10 and 11 as shown, an arcuate stamping member 12 being pivotally attached to the extremity 11 at the point 13 one end of this said member being yieldably connected to the lower edge of the member 3 by means of the spring 14. A

v latch member 15 is pivotally connected to the opposite extremity at the point 16, a lip 17 being formed integral therewith and extends laterally `from this member 15, a similar lip 13 being provided on the member 12, and a compression spring 19 is interposed between and secured to these lips as shown, and it will be obvious that this spring will exert a force tending to maintain the latch in the locked position as shown in Fig. 1 at all times. The end 20 of the point 10 is also bent at right angles to the main body and serves as clasp which the latch 15 engages when in locked position.

A flat lever 21 is pivoted intermediate its length to the member 8 at the point 22, rods 23 and 23a being pivotally connected thereto as shown, these rods extend through suitable openings provided in the casing, the free ends thereof being threaded to receive the knobs 24: which are internally threaded for engagement therewith. A coiled spring 25 surrounds the rod 23 one end thereof being anchored to the casing 1 while the opposite end is secured to the rod 23 intermediate its length, and it will be apparent that when pressure is exerted on either one of the knobs 24 that the spring 25 will be stretched, the lever 21 will rock on its pivot 22 and the end 0f the rod y23 will engage the bent lip 26 of the latch l5 swinging it on its pivot 16 and disengaging it from the projection l0, when it will assume the position as shownin F ig. 3 of the drawings, leaving the door free to open, and when the door is closed the member 6 engages the inner end of the member 12 forcing it downwardly and the latch 15 into locked position, and it will be understood that the door will be unlocked by applying pressure on either knob.

i/Vhen this latch is used on automobiles of the closed type it is sometimes preferable to have a locking attachment so that one or both doors can be locked from the inside of the car, one of the doors having a lock and key, and with this in view I have provided the curved locking member 27 pivoted to the door by means of a screw or the like and adapted to fit a slot provided in the member 23a, the end of this member 27 being bent as shown at 27a to provide a finger hold for proper manipulation thereof.

1While I have shown the latch as applied to an automobile door it will be readily understood that it can be used on any door or piece of mechanism which requires that it be opened and closed.

From the foregoing description it will be obvious that I have perfected a simple and efficient latching mechanism of durable construction which can be operated from either side of the door by the application of pressure to either of the knobs.

What I claim is l. A door latch comprising a case, a bracket rigidly mounted in the said case and having laterally extending forked extremities, a substantially arcuate member pivoted to'one of said extremities, a latch member pivoted at the outer end of said member, the inner end being yieldably connected to the bracket, and a spring member anchored to the said arcuate member and the said latch for normally forcing it into engagement with the other bracket extremity, and means for releasing the said latching mechanism.

2. A door latch comprising a bracket having laterally extending forked extremities, a substantially arcuate member pivoted to one of said extremities and a latch pivoted to the upper end thereof, resilient means connecting the lower end of the arcuate member to the base of the bracket, and an expansion spring anchored to the arcuate member and latch respectively for normally forcing the latch into engagement with the opposite extremity of the bracket,` a lever pivoted to the bracket and operating rods connected thereto, the end of one rod engaging the said latch for .unlatching it, and means for normally holding said rod out of engaging with the said latch. y

3. r-r door latch comprising a case having a bracket rigidly mounted therein and pro* vided with laterally extending forked/extremities, an arcuate member pivot-ally mounted on one extremity and a latch pivot ally mounted on the said 'arcuate member, resilient means for connecting the lower end of the arcuate memberl to the base, and an expansion spring anchored to the latch and arcuate .member respectively for normally holding theA latch into engagement with the opposite extremity of the bracket, a lever` pivoted to the bracketand operatingrods pivotally connected to the ends thereof, one of said rods being adopted to engage said latch when pressure is applied; to the free end of either rod, means for normally holding said rod -out of engagement therewith, and means for locking the rod against movement.

1i. A door latchcomprising a case having a bracket rigidly mounted therein, and having laterally extending forked extremities, a sul stantially curved member pivoted to one of said extremities and a latch carried thereby, the lower end of the curved member being resiliently connected to the base ofthe bracket, and a spring anchored to the curved member and latch respectively for holding said latch in engagement with the opposite extremity of the bracket, a lever pivoted intermediate its length to the bracket and handles secured to the ends thereof, the end of one of the rods engaging the latch when pressureis applied to either rod, resilient means for holding said rod from engagement with the latch, and a staple adapted to contact with the lower end of the curved member when the door is closed for swinging the v latch into engagement with the bracket;

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOSEPH KUozKowsKi. 

